Wire reel construction



March 7, 1961 D. I. ELOW 2,973,915

WIRE REEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 24, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. DAV/D I. EL 0W Al' om/Ex March 7, 1961 D. I. ELOW 2,973,915

WIRE REEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 24, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F|G.7. FIG. 8. F|G.9.

FIG. IO. FIG.II.

FIG. I2.

29 {f FIG.I3.

INVENTOR. DA W0 1. ELOW BYWK Q United States Patent WIRE REEL CONSTRUCTION David I. Elow, New Rochelle, N.Y., assignor to Consolidated Spring Corporation, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 717,247 7 Claims. (Cl. 242-771 This invention relates to reels. It is particularly directed to a reel on which may be wound articles to be electroplated, the construction being such as to permit circulation of plating liquid through the core and end flanges of the reel.

An object of this invention is to provide a reel of the character described, made of wire, and which may comprise two halves which may be shipped in nested condition to the plater, who may then connect the two halves of each reel to complete the reel for use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a highly improved reel construction of the character described in which the two halves may be assembled together in a single operation to form the completed reel.

Yet, another object of this invention is to provide a reel of the character described, in which each of the halves includes a plurality of similar parts welded together, thereby simplifying the production of the reel.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a reel of the character described, comprising two halves, each half comprising an end or flange portion and half of the core portion, and the core-portions of the two halves being attached together in end to end relation to complete the reel. The end portions and the core are open, thereby making the reel light in weight and permitting the halves to*be nested for compactness in shipping and storing.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a reel of the character described, in which the core portions of the two halves comprise longitudinal wires, the meeting ends of which are attached together either by a butt weld or lap weld, or by a sleeve connector.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged andzdurable reel construction of the character described, which willbe relativelyv inexpensive to -manufacture, which may be shipped and stored compactly, and which shall yet be practical and efiicient to a high degreein use.

Other-objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown various illustrative embodiments of this invention;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a reel embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of a hub portion of a one end flange; 1

. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the attachment of two portions of the reel;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating a modified construction; a

Figs. 5, 6, -7, 8 and 9, are views similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating modified constructions; V

Patented Mar. 7, 1961 Fig. 10 is a top view illustrating a butt weld between the aligned core wires of the two halves of the reel;

Fig. 11 discloses a side and top view of a lap weld be-;

tween such wires; Fig. 112 illustrates a step in forming the wires of the core for interconnection; and v Fig. 13 discloses the connection of the wires illustrated in Fig. 12.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates 'a reel embodying the invention. The reel 10 comprises two similar symmetrically disposed halves 11 attached together in the manner to be described, to form the completed reel.

Bach reel half 11 comprises an end flange 12 and half a core portion 13. Each half 11 of the reel comprises four similar circularly arranged members 15 and a hub member 16. The hub member 16, as shown in Fig. 2, may be made of two symmetrically disposed parts 17,, each made of wire. Each part 17 comprises a semi-circular wire portion 18. Extending inwardly from one end. portion 18 is a radial portion 19, from the inner end of which extends a semi-circular bearing portion 20. Extending from the opposite end of semi-circular portion 18 is a short radial portion 20 in alignment with the radial.

5 portion 21. It will be noted that the portion 19 of each 27, 28. It will now be observed that the portions, 25, 26,

part 17 is spot-welded or otherwise attached to the aligned portions 21, 22, of the other part 17, thereby forming a central hole or bearing opening 23.

Each of members 15 comprises a straight flat portion. 25 from the ends of which extends outwardly inclined portions 26. Extending inwardly from portions 26 are.

aligned portions 27, parallel to portion 25. Extending from the inner ends of portion 27 are parallel spoke portions 28 in the plane of portions 25, 26, 27. Extending from the outer ends of portions 28 are parallel core portions 29 at right angles to the plane of portions 25, 26,

27, 28 are in the end flange 12, and portions 29 form part of the core. t

The four members 15 of each reel half are arranged so that adjacent corners or junctions 30 formed between the portions 26 and 27 substantially contact, as shown in Fig. l of the drawing, and these corners may be welded together. The hub member 16 is welded as at 31 to portions 28 of member. 15 with the hole23 centralized.

It will be noted that the portions 28 of each member. 15, is at right angles to the portions 28 of members 15 adjacent thereto. Also, the aligned portions 27 of each member 15 are at right angles to the aligned portions 27 of adjacent members 15. i I The meeting ends of wire core portions 29 of the two reel halves 11 may be attached together by a butt weld 35 f as shown in Fig. 10, or by .a lap weld 3 6 as shown in I Fig. 11.

As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the core wires 29.. may have ears 37 pressed outwardly or pinched therefrom, The meeting ends of the wire 29 may be encased in a connecting sleeve 40, pressed onto the cars 37, as illustrated in Fig. 13.

In Fig. 3, a pair of members 15 are shown welded together. The members 15 may be welded together before or after welding them to the hub members 16.

In Fig. 4 there are shown a pair of members 15a welded together. These members 15a are similar to members 15 except that the portions 25, 26 of members 15 are replaced by portions 25a which are round and form an outer periphery of an end flange of the reel.

.In Fig. 5 there is shown a'hub member 16a made of member 41 and a pair of similar symmetrically dis posed wire members 42. Each member 42 comprises a semi-circular portion 43 from the ends of which extend inwardly radial portions 44 welded as at 45 to member 41. g

In Fig. 6 there is shown a hub member 16b, similar to hub member 16a and comprising bearing member 41 and a pair of wire members 46. Each of the members 46 comprises a straight wire member portion 47 from the ends of which extend parallel portions 48 terminating in inwardly extending portions 49, welded as at 50 to the bearing member 41, thus producing a square hub member.

In Fig. 7 there is shown a hub member 160 illustrating a further modification. Hub members 166' comprises a circular Wire member 51 having meeting welded ends 52. Said hub member 160 further comprises a pair of similar symmetrically disposed wire members 53 each comprising a central semi-circular bearing POl'tlOE 54 and radial portions 55 extending therefrom. The outer ends of the radial portions 55 are welded as at 56 to the circular member 51. The radial portions 55 of the two members 53 are welded to each other as at 57.

In Fig. 8 there is shown a hub member 16d illustrating a further modification. Hub member 16d is made of two similar symmetrically disposed wires 60. Each wire 60 comprises a straight portion 61 from which extends parallel portions 62. Extending from one portion 62 is a radial portion 63 from which extends a semicircular portion 64, terminating in a radial wire end 65. Extending from the other portion 62 is a radial wire end 66 in alignment with wire portion 65. The wire ends 65, 66 of one wire 60 are welded as at 65a, 66b to portion 63 of the other wire 60. It will be noted that the wires 60 are in a common plane, as shown in Fig. 5, and comprise a central beating and a hub portion to be welded to the members 15.

In Fig. 9 there is shown a hub member 166 i1lustrating yet a further modification made of two pieces of wire 68 and 69. The piece of wire 68 comprises a central circular bearing portion 70 from which extends a spiral portion 71. The outer end of the spiral portion 71 is Welded as at 72 to the circular member 69. One end of the circular bearing portion 70 is welded as at 73 to close the circle.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that the matter set forth above or shown in the accompanying drawings is merely illustrative and is not to be interpreted in a limiting sense, thescope of the invention being delineated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A reel comprising a pair of similar, symmetrically disposed reel halves, each half comprising a plurality of similar, circularly arranged members, each made of a single piece of wire, each member comprising a peripheral portion, portions extending inwardly from the ends of the peripheral portion toward each other and in the plane of the peripheral portion, spoke portions extending at an angle to said inwardly extending portions and in the plane of said inwardly extending portions and peripheral portion, and core portions extending from the outer ends of said spoke portions at right angels to said planes, and a hub member attached to said spoke portions and having a central bearing, and the outer ends of the core portions of each half being fixedly connected to' the outer ends of the core portions of the other half, the junctions of the peripheral and inwardly extending portions of each member being adjacent to similar junctions of adjacent members.

2. The combination of claim 1, said junctions of each member being fixed to the said junctions of adjacent members.

3. The combination of claim 1, the connection of the core portions of the two halves comprising sleeves receiving the meeting ends of said core portions.

4. The combination of claim 1, each hub member comprising a pair of similar parts each made of a single piece of wire having an outer peripheral semi-circular portion, radial portions and an inner semi-circular bearing portion, with the radial portions of said two parts being fixedly connected together.

5. The combination of claim 1, each hub member comprising an outer peripheral portion, an inner bearing portion, and portions connecting said outer and inner portions. 1

6. The combination of claim 5, said inner portion comprising a flat annular ring having a central hole.

7. A reel comprising a pair of symmetrically disposed parts, each part comprising a plurality of circularly arranged members, each made of- Wire, each member comprising a peripheral portion, portions extending radially inwardly from the ends of said peripheral portion, and in the plane of said peripheral portion, and core portions extending from the ends of said inwardly extending portions, at right angles to the plane of said peripheral portions, and a hub member attached to said inwardly extending portions, and having a central bearing, and the outer ends of the core portions ofeach part being fixedly connected to the outer ends of the core portions of the other part, the junctions of the peripheral and inwardly extending portions of each member being adjacent to similar junctions of an adjacent member.

References Cited in the file of this patent A UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,103,519 Lachman July 14, 1914 1,156,569 Watkins on. 12, 1915 1,451,745 Sommer Apr. 17, 1923 1,540,836 Heddefich June 9, 1925 1,885,734 Lachman et a1. -Q. Nov. 1, 1932 1,981,809 Mueller Nov. 20, 1934 2,080,355 Geer' May 11, 1937 

